She was marked with the curse of those who slink and court and kill by night!

Starring: Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Tom Conway, Jane Randolph, Jack Holt, Alan Napier, Elizabeth Dunne, Elizabeth Russell, Alec Craig, Dot Farley, Theresa Harris, Mary Halsey

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"I'm drawn to her. There's a warmth from her that pulls at me. I have to watch her when she's in the room. I have to touch her when she's near." - Ollie Reed

Why watch this? This well-done early gothic horror film explores feline lycanthropy.

Plot Summary: There's just something enthralling about the beautiful Irena Dubrovna. While sketching a black panther at the zoo, she meets Ollie Reed. As he courts the sheepish woman, she divulges her lineage and how it's tied to an ancient group, called the Mameluks. These villagers embraced evil, some were killed, but many escaped into the Serbian mountains. Irena and Ollie eventually marry, but she cannot consummate their marriage because she believes that she is a descendant of the Mameluks, and will become a panther when her passions are aroused. Ollie dismisses this, yet the marital distance drives him into the arms of his co-worker. This enrages Irene with jealousy.

Dad's Preview:  This film is a perfect example of how great films can be made without huge Hollywood budgets. It's eerie, tense and has some legitimately scary moments, especially the scene in the indoor swimming pool. It spawned a sequel and an equally frightening remake: Cat People (1982).

Val Lewton; RKO Radio Pictures